Govt intensifies exclusive breastfeeding advocacy

Forum 8 months ago

Govt intensifies exclusive breastfeeding advocacy

The Lagos State Government has intensified its advocacy for exclusive breastfeeding of babies in order to have healthy children and society.

Speaking at an awareness and sensitisation programme on Wednesday in commemoration of the 2023 World Breastfeeding Week, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health District I, Dr Olufunmilayo Bankole, urged nursing mothers and pregnant women to support the drive of the state government to entrench the culture of proper and exclusive breastfeeding of infants.

She advised them to ensure that children are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life, noting that “breastfeeding prevents hunger, malnutrition and ensures food security for babies.”

The programme, which was organised by the newly-created Lagos State Health District I (comprising Agege, Ifako-Ijaiye and Alimosho LGAs) in partnership with the Office of the First Lady of Lagos State, commenced with an awareness walk within the environs of Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government.

This was followed by a health talk on the benefits of breastfeeding to nursing mothers and pregnant women at the Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital and Ifako-Ijaiye Primary Healthcare Centre.

Bankole said the theme of the week, ‘Enabling Breastfeeding: Making a Difference for Working Parents,’ was well thought out, stressing that employers of labour and working-class parents needed to understand the role of exclusive and proper breastfeeding in the upbringing and mental development of children.